State Briefs 1/29/09

Friday

GALESBURG — A student reportedly was choked during an altercation over a library book Jan. 12, resulting in the arrest of his alleged attacker.

The Lombard Middle School student, 12, told police that, near the end of the school day, he went to the school’s library to pick up a library book. He said another student took the book he wanted and that he became upset and told the other boy he wanted the book.

The second student, 11, grabbed him by the neck and choked him, leaving bruises on his neck. The boy said he had not had previous problems with the boy and did not tell anyone at school because he was afraid. He instead returned home and told his father, who called police.

Officers contacted the school and also contacted the alleged attacker’s father, who told police his son had been getting into trouble and wanted them to arrest him to “teach him a lesson.”

Police arrested the 11-year-old for disorderly conduct. He was transported to the Knox County jail for processing and returned home. His case was turned over to Knox County Teen Court.

Galesburg Register-Mail

Crane company won’t be fined over death

NORMAL — The Occupational Safety and Health Administration is not issuing a fine against a Normal crane company in connection with the death of one of its workers last July.

Instead, the Peoria office of OSHA is asking Area Erectors ensure that regular inspections are conducted on the wire ropes used in the hoists of the crane, according to the agency's report.

After a six-month investigation, OSHA determined a wire rope on a crane had more than six times the number of breaks the agency allows.

Josh M. Dawe, 33, of Topeka, stepson of former Pekin Mayor Lyn Howard, was killed July 23 when the boom of the crane collapsed and trapped him while he was alone on the platform of an aerial lift about 27 feet in the air.

Peoria Journal Star

Motion filed to dismiss charges against Beaman

NORMAL — McLean County State’s Attorney Bill Yoder today filed a motion to dismiss the murder charges against Alan Beaman, who spent 13 years in prison for the murder of a former girlfriend.

Beaman, 35, of Rockford, was convicted in the 1993 stabbing and strangling death of his ex-girlfriend, Jennifer Lockmiller, an Illinois State University student from Decatur.

Last May, the Illinois Supreme Court threw out the conviction, saying prosecutors violated Beaman’s constitutional right to due process of law, citing evidence that implicated a second man and was not presented at trial. In addition, the court said the evidence against Beaman was weak. He was facing a potential retrial in the case.

In a statement from Yoder’s office, the investigation of Lockmiller’s death “will continue in an effort to bring her killer to justice.”

Peoria Journal Star

Lincoln stamp event set

SPRINGFIELD -- The U.S. Postal Service First-Day-of-Issue ceremony for the new Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial postage stamps will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 9, at the Old State Capitol in Springfield. The event is free and open to the public.

U.S. Postmaster General John Potter will dedicate the four new stamps that go on sale nationwide that day.

Only the First-Day-of-Issue cancellation will bear the postmark “Springfield, IL.” Several public figures, including U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, U.S. Rep. Aaron Shock, and Mayor Tim Davlin, will speak at the event.

The Postal Service will have a special store set up inside the Old Capitol from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. so people can buy the Lincoln stamps. The Postal Service also will offer a special Lincoln’s birthday cancellation service from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 12, at the Old Capitol.

State Journal-Register

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